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10 ways Black Friday 2011 will be different

While Black Friday will likely always be a frenzy of bargains, there are some elements that change with the times. Since we at dealnews think that the best way to make the most of this epic shopping event is to be prepared, we’ve compiled this list of ways in which Black Friday 2011 will be different. Here’s what you can expect:

1. Fewer people are buying TVs

One of the obvious items to be on the hunt for during Black Friday is an HD television, as they’re frequently at the center of most major retailers’ ads. (Plus, you’ll see all-time low prices on several sizes during that weekend.) But HDTV sales across the board have been sliding, with even the top manufacturers reporting significant dips. Shoppers seem less interested in purchasing TVs, which means this traditional Black Friday draw may entice fewer people this year.

2. More shoppers will use mobile devices

A recent study from Accenture says that a whopping 54 percent of in-store shoppers plan to use a smartphone to compare prices on Black Friday, with slightly less than half saying they expect the practice to help them get a better deal. (Might be a good time to download the dealnews app, eh?) Additionally, more people appear to be shopping via mobile devices on the whole; last month, 42 percent of dealnews visits were generated on a mobile browser, which is a notable increase from 29 percent last October.

3. You won’t be shopping for Netbooks

Eagle-eyed dealnews readers might have noticed that we neglected to include netbooks in our Black Friday predictions piece this year. That’s because prices on better-equipped laptops have dipped so low, there are fewer reasons to opt for a basic netbook that hovers around the same price.

4. There won’t be refurb deals on the latest iPhone

Last year, the iPhone 4 was released on June 24, and three months later we saw the first deal on a refurbished unit. Then, on Black Friday, we saw both the 16GB and 32GB refurbs drop $50 a piece, for an Editors’ Choice–caliber deal. This year, however, the iPhone 4S release occurred in mid-October, which means we likely won’t see refurbished deals until January, after the holiday rush.

5. You shouldn’t buy a game console this year

It’s been several years since the big names in gaming consoles have unveiled newer models. (Last year, all we got were motion-based accessory upgrades.) The story remains the same this Black Friday – almost. This time around, there are rumored releases on the horizon for Wii and, further down the line, Xbox, which means it’s probably not the smartest time to be shopping for a console that’s already several years old. Most people who want these models, already have them. And to replace them now seems like bad timing. We’ll see deals of course, but they’re unlikely to be anything we haven’t already seen.

6. The iPod is obsolete

A few weeks ago, the iPod turned 10, and though it has served us well, there’s evidence that the concept of a separate MP3 player is on its way out. More people use their smartphone as a portable music device, and iPod sales have slowed recently. At this point, shoppers are likely to spring for an iPod touch, which features the added benefit of WiFi connectivity, over a classic iPod.

7. You’ll finally believe in Cyber Monday

For several years now, Cyber Monday has been an important day for online deals, but many consumers have questioned whether it was a legitimate event or remained a marketing ploy. Our research indicates that Cyber Monday sales will be high this year. However, keep in mind that Black Friday shopping starts earlier and earlier each year, with some of the best bargains being revealed on Thanksgiving Day itself. That means pre-weekend offerings will probably still be greater in terms of sheer volume.

8. You’ll start shopping earlier

Stores are always looking to get a jump start on the shopping season (we’ve seen three Christmas trees up already), and as we touched upon in the prior point, they continue to specifically roll back their opening times for Black Friday. It’s not just a trend amongst brick-and-mortar merchants. Last year, Amazon was offering stellar lightning deals on Thanksgiving itself, and it’s already begun promoting its Black Friday Store deals (although these are unlikely to be of the same caliber as the holiday week itself). It’s now a well-accepted fact that deals will start early, and shoppers will begin seeking them out before Black Friday comes along.

9. The deals will be better this year

As we mentioned last month, several signs are pointing toward a Black Friday that’s on par with 2008, which was one of the best we’ve seen in terms of deal quality. Consumers have been frugal with their shopping this year, which means merchants have bloated inventories heading into the holiday shopping season. They’ll thus need to entice conservative shoppers with strong discounts, making for a very merry Black Friday.

10. You’re less likely to shop in-store

As we reported last week, fewer people are planning on shopping in-store on Black Friday this year. When a group of general consumers were polled, only 44 percent said they would attend in-store sales, down from last year. Meanwhile, 32 percent of dealnews readers said they’d split their shopping between in-store and online.

Note: This is a seattlepi.com reader blog. It is not written or edited by the P-I. The authors are solely responsible for content. E-mail us at newmedia@seattlepi.com if you consider a post inappropriate.